Apathy in Dementia Methylphenidate Trial 2

Inclusion criteria * Possible or probable Alzheimer's disease (National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria), with Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score of 10-28 inclusive * Clinically significant apathy for at least four weeks for which either * the frequency of apathy as assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is 'Very frequently', or * the frequency of apathy as assessed by the NPI is 'Frequently' or 'Often' AND the severity of apathy as assessed by the NPI is 'Moderate' or 'Marked' * A medication for apathy is appropriate, in the opinion of the study physician * Provision of informed consent for participation in the study by potential participant or surrogate (with participant assent if the potential participant is unable to provide informed consent) and caregiver * Availability of primary caregiver, who spends greater than ten hours a week with the potential participant and supervises his/her care, to accompany the potential participant to study visits and to participate in the study * Sufficient fluency, of both the potential participant and caregiver, in written and spoken English to participate in study visits, physical exams, and outcome assessments * If female, woman must be post-menopausal for at least 2 years or have had a hysterectomy Exclusion criteria * Currently meets criteria for Major Depressive Episode, by Diagnostic Statistical Manual…